Surge Control for Metallurgical Dust Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steel production processes face sluggish control responses to escaping flue gas and flames due to constant suction requirements, leading to excessive emissions of toxic gases.

Innovation Solution

An outflow control system that determines the quantity of escaping flue gas using a camera system and adjusts the suction device's operating point to quickly suppress emissions, transitioning control from suction regulation to outflow control until emissions cease.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If pressure control in the extraction duct is used to influence flow control, then the extraction system operates stably under normal conditions, but the control response becomes slow when flue gas escapes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol stabilityVSAvoidcontrol response speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two control modes: normal pressure control for stable operation and surge control for rapid response to flue gas escape. The surge control temporarily overrides the preset values with directly calculated extraction quantities based on camera detection, enabling fast response while maintaining stability during normal operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the control parameters from preset values dependent on metallurgical unit operating state to surge extraction quantities calculated from real-time flue gas detection. This parameter change allows the system to adapt quickly to escaping flue gas by adjusting extraction quantity based on actual conditions rather than predetermined settings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If constant extraction rate is maintained, then the extraction system operates simply and reliably, but it cannot quickly respond to pulsating pressure increases and flame formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction system reliabilityVSAvoidresponse to process fluctuations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses camera detection of flue gas escape as feedback to trigger surge control. When flue gas is detected, the system calculates the required surge extraction quantity and adjusts the extraction device accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to process fluctuations while maintaining reliable operation during normal conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for potential flue gas escape by having the camera system continuously monitor for escaping flue gas. When detected, the surge control is immediately activated to prevent excessive emissions before they can occur, rather than reacting after the problem has fully developed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables rapid reaction to escaping flue gas and flame formation, effectively reducing emissions by directly controlling the suction device based on real-time flue gas quantification, improving safety and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a camera system for detecting escaping flue gas in the area of the metallurgical unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Light

Implementation Method 2

the quantity of the escaping flue gas is determined by an optical flow method and/or flame analysis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical flow method: Image Processing

Implementation Method 3

the quantity of the escaping flue gas is determined by an optical flow method and/or flame analysis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlame analysis: Combustion

Implementation Method 4

an extraction device designed as a suction device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP4390285A1Suction or dust removal installation of metallurgical industrial plants and a method for operating the suction or dust removal installation
Publication Date: 2024.06.26 PRIMETALS TECH AUSTRIA GMBH
  • EP4390285A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4390285A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4390285A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to the field of extraction or dust removal systems for metallurgical industrial plants. The object of the invention is to provide a method that reacts very quickly to the occurrence of outbursts of flue gas in order to prevent such outbursts.The task is solved by the overflow control (5) determining the quantity of the overflowing flue gas (15) detected by the camera system (8) and calculating an additional required overflow extraction quantity, whereby the additional required overflow extraction quantity is used to set a new operating point of the extraction device from the current operating point of the extraction device, whereby the overflow control (5) transmits the new operating point directly to the extraction device (9) and the control of the extraction device (9) is taken over exclusively by the overflow control (5) from the time of transmission until a predefined handover event defines the time at which only the extraction control (6) and/or extraction regulation is used again to control and/or regulate the extraction device (9).